Kukla's Korner Hockey

They are in the same place as they were a year ago, the only one of the four remaining teams in the chase for the Stanley Cup that is back in the semi-finals for the second year in a row.

But the differences between then and now are night and day, for the Detroit Red Wings. Last year, they were missing two of their three top defencemen – Nicklas Kronwall and Mathieu Schneider – at this stage of the playoffs, meaning Methuselah (a.k.a. Chris Chelios) was playing upward of 20 minutes a night. Kyle Quincey, a minor-leaguer, got into 13 playoff games. Andreas Lilja was a top-four rearguard.

Fistric was the Stars’ first pick, 28th overall, in the 2004 entry draft. In 37 games with the Stars in the regular season - his first taste of big league play - Fistric had two assists. So you know he wasn’t brought to town to add offense.

Grossman was chosen the same year – 56th overall – and has a similar offensive upside to Fistric, which is to say hardly any at all. In 70 NHL games prior to this year’s playoffs, he had seven assists.

Daley, meanwhile, is a scoring defenseman, but like the other two, it was his stellar defensive play in Game 6 that was most notable.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired coach Paul Maurice and sources tell TSN that the team has approached the Vancouver Canucks asking for permission to speak with recently fired GM Dave Nonis.

Nonis would be brought in to handle the Leafs’ managing duties through next season, with speculation suggesting the Maple Leafs would then approach Brian Burke at the conclusion of the season, with designs on Burke overseeing the entire hockey operation with Nonis continuing to occupy a management role as well.

NEW YORK (May 7, 2008)—To venerate its past, to celebrate its present and to anticipate its future, the National Hockey League has scheduled four major events in conjunction with the 2008 Stanley Cup Final:

* The League will honor members of the Detroit Red Wings dynasty that won four Stanley Cups in a six-year stretch from 1950 to 1955. Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly, Alex Delvecchio, Marty Pavelich, Johnny Wilson and Marcel Pronovost have been invited to attend a dinner on an off-day during the first week of the Stanley Cup Final.

Two powerhouses meet in the West. Two teams on the rise in the East. Two toss-ups.

The NHL’s conference finals could be long ones. A look at both series with predictions: Eastern Conference final - Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Many believed the Flyers would lose to Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in the first round. Almost everybody was sure Philadelphia would be taken down by Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.

Not only are the Philadelphia Flyers poised to become the first team in the NHL’s post-expansion era to go from dead last to the Stanley Cup finals in a year, but they’re doing it in a way that truly harkens back to their glory days of the mid-1970s.

Great goaltending. More skill and finesse than people give them credit for. A nasty, take-no-prisoners approach that appeals to the hockey fans of Philadelphia and channels the snarling, uberaggressive attitude of Freddie “The Fog” Shero’s Broad Street Bullies.

A short Q&A session with the media, talking with Detroit Red Wings players Nicklas Lidstrom, Johan Franzen and Chris Osgood.

Q. Chris, 6?0 an incredible run here in the playoffs. Where do you point the finger? Why have you had such success?

CHRIS OSGOOD: In two parts I’ll answer. Personally, just doing the right things in practice with Jim Bedard and staying ready. Even when I wasn’t playing, I felt confident, even before I went in that I could do the job. Just being ready so I wasn’t standing there doubting myself whatsoever.